Doctor Who

[beccatoria]

Three entries in two days! My word!

I watched Doctor Who today. I've been putting off watching it because I missed a couple and wanted to catch up, but I sort of figured I was home and bored and not watching was just creating a backlog, and hey, I LIKE Doctor Who.



It was all right, I guess.

I didn't find the Doctor offensive this week so much as...bland? Like, watch as I work it all out - it's yet again some bad-guy being selfish, there's usually something about power sources (I swear, any bad guy on this show, the limiting factor nearly always power sources, and the motivating factor is money 50% of the time and selfish escape from something the other 50%). So anyway, there's this selfish bad guy who's all about the power sources and the Doctor distracts him by moralising at him. And it's not so much that I even disagree with his moralising. Everything dies. You can't hang on. It's a powerful and important message. But hearing David Tennant over-animate it like he's had one too many red bulls for breakfast somehow renders it ordinary and I stop listening.

Though the slap was a bonus.

One of the things I appreciate about this series is the time it's taking for the Doctor to "get over" Rose. Not because I'm particularly attached to that as any kind of "ship" but because of the way they played the relationship - it really was the first time in the history of Who they'd played up that sort of thing (they didn't even do it with Romana, really). And if they didn't take time and keep in oblique references to Rose - if the suggestion was that his relationship with her was typical - it could be lend a very manipulative and dark tone to the whole thing. So kudos to them on that, and it was nice to see Martha stand up for herself and demand full companion status.

Curiously, the dark, manipulative aspect of the Doctor is what Martha's Ma seems to be getting at. I'm...uncertain, though, and this could be because I missed a few episodes and haven't caught up yet. But I keep feeling that - as much as these things can be addressed in what is, essentially, a kids' show - the dangers of being the Doctor's companion, and the way his relationship with both Rose and Martha could, in some ways, be characterised as manipulative, is something worthy of discussion. But Martha's Ma's worry kind of loses its melodrama because I don't actually believe she knows something about the Doctor that I don't. I mean, I feel for her and stuff because her kid is out galavanting with a really dodgy-seeming dude, but that's different from generating suspense and drama.

So...yes. I am curious.

And looking forward to the inevitable love triangle that will crop up when Captain Jack returns. That trailer did look hella cool.

Signing off, because it is late and I am tired.

Comments

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

I didn't find the Doctor offensive this week so much as...bland?

seebrirun and I have decided to blame the director for the underwhelming episode because, despite the tired non-plot, this script shouldn't have ended up that bland.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

... at least it was better than the last three episodes put together?

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

So...I didn't miss much then?

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

No. Really. This ep was a high point. The dalek two-parter was embaressingly bad, and the episode set in New New York with the Face Of Bo was... intensely disappointing. But at least it wasn't quite as flat-out bad as the Dalek two-parter.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Did the Face of Bo actually shell out with that whole "prophecy" thing he wouldn't give to the Doctor last time? That was something I was kind of interested in...

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

No, sadly. THey fumbled this *really* badly. After all the excitement about what it might be, and how profound it might be. His last words turned out to be something along the lines of 'You are not alone.'

Which we had all pretty much figured anyway. Plus, they are totally useless last words. And barely prophetic at all.

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

at least it was better than the last three episodes put together?

Not for me because I liked Gridlock and only actually disliked Emo of the Daleks. I've been enjoying this season (3/29) much more than last year (2/28). Probably as much as the first season of new Who (1/27).

But it's good that we all enjoy different things or tv would be even more bland.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I may still just be carrying lingering resentment that Rose has gone. ;)

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

YES! I think that's why I was using...eplipses and question marks? It was odd. Because it had SLAPPING and MOVING STUFF ABOUT THE INEVITABILITY OF DEATH and VERY GOOD ISSUES ABOUT MARTHA'S SAFETY. Yet...bland.

I still think certain sections of the script were under par, like the Doctor's big "I'm distracting you," rant about how pathetic the critter was. Felt very..."Crazy Doctor Rant #4". But again, it's amazing how much directing helps - both in terms of actor choices and shot choices.

At least the trailer genuinely got me a bit more excited about the rest of the series.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I'm sure David Tennant used to be a much better actor than he has been this season, no? I mean, I can't recall the Doctor last year doing all this CRAZY EYE BOGGLING stuff.

[beccatoria.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he did, I think it ws just a bit more novel last season and perhaps not quite so common. And David Tennat is a good actor. Which is why it's so odd. Which is also why I'm inclined to blame the writing and directing for my irritation with the doctor's attitude at various points during Tennant's run. *sigh*

I'm at least still enjoying the series and I'm convinced it'll have high points again. That's one thing about DW, it all goes in cycles. For every Colin Baker (though I do think that guy got a raw deal and wasn't as bad as most people make him out to be) you get a Sylvester McCoy, who makes even the Happiness Patrol enjoyable...

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I sort of get the feeling this year as well, that somebody at the BBC has issued a directive that the show be aimed much more at the kiddies. Which might explain a lot of this boggle eyed Doctor over-acting stuff?

The writing really has been off though. I was watching Tooth and Claw the other night. And it was way more fun than anything this season has offered us yet.